Far From Refuge

It seems that no one these days has an original idea.  This extends to many forms of media but I am specifically speaking about film.  Every movie these days is either a sequel, prequel, reboot, redo, based on a comic, based on a book, based on a tv show, based on a board game (thats right, Battleship and Candyland are coming your way pretty soon), or some other rip off of a half assed existing idea.

Today I found out that there is going to be a movie based on the tv show Friday Night Lights.  The insane thing is that the tv show is based off of an already existing movie, that was in turn based off of a book.  So they want to make a movie that is based off of a tv show that is based off of a prior movie that is based off of a book, which is actually based on a true story.  YIKES!  Have we run out of ideas?

I took a gander earlier at what movies were currently playing in theaters.  Here are a few of the titles that were out:

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance - Both a sequel and based off of a comic book
Journey 2: Mysterious Island - Sequel
Underworld Awakening - Sequel
Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - Sequel and based on a cartoon
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - Sequel and based on a book
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - Sequel and based on a tv show
The Muppets - Sequel and based on a previous franchise
We Bought a Zoo - Based on a book
Hugo - Based on a book
War Horse -Based on a book and stage adaptation of the book
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Based on a book
Puss in Boots - Sequel/spinoff of Shrek
Happy Feet Two - Sequel

That is not all of them either.  Those are just the ones that were on the first page and I knew off the top of my head were based on prior work.  That is insane to me.  I don't understand why there needs to be this extreme need for familiarity. Will the masses not go to see a movie unless it has a familiar name or character?  Is that how movies like Land of the Lost get made? Disney even made an entire franchise based on a ride in their theme park.  I maintain that were it not for Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean would be a colossal failure, not unlike Disney's other ride based movie The Haunted Mansion (starring Eddie Murphy).

Once again, there are movies coming out for Battleship and Candyland.  WTF?   Battleship.  BATTLESHIP!  There is a movie coming out for Battleship.  I cannot believe that.

I think I am the only one who is taking his significant other out for Valentines Day.  Today at work I inquired of a few co-workers as to where they were taking their ladies and got a myriad of answers.  My favorite answer came from Joe our CFO.  "I don't celebrate Valentines Day with my wife.  I set up a standard early in the relationship for her to not expect anything." Wow.  He then tried to convince me to bring home a Frostie and some chicken nuggets for Ashley on Valentines Day in order to "reset the bar".  I have no words to express how much I would not and could not do that.  Other responses included not celebrating on V-Day, not really caring about V-Day, and something about not caring and being low maintenance (from a girl in the office).  I then went to the interwebs and asked my friend on google chat about where he was taking his lady.  I got roughly this reply,"We are buying a house and don't want to waste money."  I see the validity of wanting save money but is $50-$100 going to break the bank? I guess if they are both down with that then to each there own.

I guess what I am getting at is that it is really confusing and surprising to me that not one person I asked said they had plans.  I will admit that I do like to make Ashley happy and doing something for Valentines Day will ensure that happiness, but I don't feel like I am overly "whipped".  Is it so weird to actually celebrate Valentines Day?  Its beginning to feel that way.  Regardless, I have a nice little night planned for February 14th.  Its a secret though so ssshhh....

It is here at last! "What is here?" you ask.  The softball season opener is here.  I feel like it has been years since I last played.  In reality it has only been 2 months.  Regardless, it has been too long and I am so excited to throw the spikes back on start swingin' the lumber again.  Last season ended with a little disappointment as we finished in 2nd place.  The fire has been stoked again and we are out for blood this season.  After starting to miss the MLB season a bit the past week, softball season starting will fill that void for now.  So here's to my brethren in arms, The MOOSEKNUCKLES, and us bringing home another championship this season. 

This photo can only bring to mind a quote from Anchorman when they have the street fight.  "You dirtbags have been in 3rd place for 7 years!"

Time has gotten away from me, friends, and I apologize. It has been much to long since my last post.  I suppose I have some excuses (i.e. Christmas, New Years, out of town), but I am back now.  It was an interesting holiday season this year.  The lady spent her first Christmas away from her family, which was difficult as one could imagine.  We tried to make up for it by entrenching her with tons of MY family.  In retrospect, not sure if that helped or hurt the situation.  :) I kid.  Christmas Eve was spent with my mom and LaMar in Yorba Linda, with a little twist , however, this year.  We were joined by pretty much ALL of my mom's side of the family including my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins(even our Navy Sailor John showed up), and our family jewel Aunt Margie.  It has been a while since we have all gotten together during the holidays and I enjoyed seeing everyone. 

On Christmas Day we got up early and went to my Mom's ward for church.  It was great to see everyone there, especially some old friends I hadn't seen since high school.  Ash and I brought all our unopened presents with us to my parent's place so we could all open everything together.  I got two pairs of Tom's from my mom (red and black burlap) and a video game I had been wanting (Modern Warfare 3), but the real treat came from Ashley in the form of an AppleTV.  My lady gets me, I tell ya.  I hooked it up a a couple days after Christmas and am loving it.  I will love it even more once we move and I set up my surround sound so I can listen to my iTunes music on good speakers.  As for her, she got a new Marc Jacobs bag, new boots, and few a other nice trinkets. 

New Years came and went without much of anything.  We watched Gaga, LMFAO, and others rock(I use that term extremely loosely) NYC as well as the corpse of Dick Clark being controlled by strings.  A quick kiss at midnight and off to bed.  Sometimes it feels like we are so old we have kids in our 20's rather than actually being in our 20's ourselves.   

As for the diet, it started off well, but soon got lost in all the hubbub of the holiday season and my trip to Denver(more on that in the next post).  I am now proud to say that I am back on the wagon and am doing very well.  My brother, Rex, suggested I keep my intake under 2000 calories a day, and that combined with a few cardio sessions a week would equal quick weight loss.  I have decided to take the suggestion and am liking the process so far.  In fact, my first day on the new program I only had 1500 calories.  Weird huh?  I guess that means I have room for a snack in the middle of the day like yogurt, fruit, or cottage cheese.  Most importantly, it feels good to be back at it again.  Nothing makes you feel more out of shape than being a mile above sea level.